Alienware M17x R4 usb 3.0 problem

You didn't read the thread very well either....this is a USB 3.0 problem , no one that I know of is having USB 2.0 problems.

 

I have been told by Alienware that they will not be fixing this issue. They haven't got the man power to solve this problem.

 

If problem only occurs on WD.... that can be solved....

but I did not pay laptop 2000$ to have stupid issues with it... and defiantly stupid explanations .....

my mistake that I have trusted Alienware..... and this is my last time that I have buy Alienware laptop

 

I hate to say it but this isn't just a Dell issue. I have an 4 bay Mediasonic enclosure running JBOB. The enclosure worked perfectly on my old xps 1645 on USB 2.0. It has been a nightmare with my current 702X. I've spent a good deal of time combing the internet trying to find anyone that has come up with a solution. This issue for some reason doesn't affect users of Win XP. Besides that it seems to that USB 3.0 has an issue with moving large files. Mediasonic is saying upgrade to Win8 but I've read of users having issues with 8 also. Some are suggesting turning off power management, that works for some and not others. Updating drivers, firmware have also proved not to be an effective solution for everyone. Ive seen it blamed on the Jmicron chipset in some enclosures, or Renesas/NEC drivers and firmware. I updated to the latest Renasas/NEC driver last night and my intermittent problem became chronic. I now cannot transfer files using USB 3.0. The only thing so far that has come close to a solution, that I have seen, is replacing enclosure's until you find something that works. I was hoping that since this issue has been around for over a year now that someone would have found a solution by now but it doesn't look like it. I'm starting to believe that USB 3.0 is a bad standard, I'm not going to hold my breadth for 4.0 tho.

 

If you use an external hard drive with USB 2.0 does anyone get a problem? and does the external hdd with USB 2.0 disconnect and reconnect during/after a large data transfer in the USB 3.0 port of the Alienware?

 

That I wouldn't have an answer for. I've seen that nobody is having an issue with 2.0. I had always assumed they meant using their 2.0 ports.

 

Can anyone 100% confirm that there is no issue with USB 2.0 external hdd's in usb 3.0 ports?

 

Course not. I can 100% confirm that there is no issue with the USB 2.0 external drives I've used in usb 3.0 ports for my system. Someone else might have a different experience.

 

I have a Seagate goflex HDD, and I have both the 2.0 and 3.0 adapters, it works fine with the 2.0 no problems whatsoever. But when I used the 3.0 adapter is when I get the troubles, Before on ACHI mode I was getting the disconnects, and now on RAID, It will transfer and halfway through it will just hang for a minute and then continue copying. Its not DELL or Alienware, I am pretty sure its a driver issue. Its probably a bug causing the motherboard to stop supplying power or "hiccuping" with it.

 

Thanks for the info. so is it still safe to buy an Alienware at the moment or should i wait? or should i just get a previous gen MacBook Pro lol?

 

I see nothing wrong with it right now, I am pretty its not a permanent problem. Unless your transferring files all day long its not a problem, just a minor nuisance.

 

Cheers. so when do you think intel will actually do there job right and release proper drivers?

 

Hopefully soon.

 

But when I used the 3.0 adapter is when I get the troubles, Before on ACHI mode I was getting the disconnects, and now on RAID,

Hi!


My is on RAID and I have issues, I just checked...

But I have change some options in bios regarding USB, now I will check what happen....

Still issues.....

for now only wait solution from Intel....

 

Screw this im buying a previous gen MacBook Pro when they actually did work lol

 

what format are the external hard drives formatted as?

 

I have 2.0 drives using Toshiba, WD, Seagate and Hitachi drives, and none will complete a large file transfer or a backup without a file transfer "drive not found...retry... abort" message or the backup software giving the equivalent message. This is when connecting 2.0 USB drives to any of the 4 USB 3.0 ports. USB 2.0 on the eSata /USB 2.0 port works fine, and that is the only way to use such drives reliably.

Small file operations do work, usually, on a 3.0 external connected to a 3.0 USB port. But if you are copying a significant amount of data, it always fails. I back up a work directory with about 100gb several times a day on rotating drives, and have had to discard about a dozen external drives, mostly WDs. I've now had to buy 6 new Buffalo 1tb drives, and several Seagate 500gbs, the ones I found that work well always. Of 8 WD My Passport USB3.0 drives of different capacity, none works for more than tiny transfers.

 

All the Hitachi, WD and Seagate OEM (the external contains a drive made by the seller of the external drive package) drives I have bought in the last year have come with NTFS standard, and those externals who don't make their own drives, like Buffalo and A Data also come preformatted in NTFS in the capacities I use, which are 500 gb and 1 tb.

 

And I was emailed and told that the case has been escalated. Since having external 3.0 drives is getting really common, I would imagine that this is perceived as a major issue... those of us with two drives and lots of capacity also need to back all that stuff up, too!

 

I can confirm that usb 2.0 enclosure hard drives do not have this problem at all. The problem only creeps up when using a usb 3 enclosure hard drives...I have used Seagate and Toshiba hard drives using 2.0 casing. It works flawlessly on all the ports. But today I used my friends USB 3.0 hard drive and voila! it was connecting and disconnecting. But when I set it to transfer 6 gigs of data it did so without issues.. The transfer speed was touching 75 mb/s. I dont know what was the rpm of his drive.

I have not tested it on Pen Drives. Has anyone tried it using USB 3.0 pen drives? Do the reproduce the same issue?.

My Intel USB3.0 Super Speed slots work at High Speed mode, why?

usb 3.0 problem

 

I just ordered a m17x r4 and plan on purchasing an external hard drive. Based on what is being discussed here I have gathered that I should hold off on buying a usb 3.0 HDD, but a usb 2.0 HDD is fine even on the usb 3.0 ports. Is this correct? Are there any brands of usb 3.0 external HDD that have no issues or will work in maybe a 2.0 mode\adapter?

 

I have received this WD 2Tb drive recently and immediately found this issue. I have used USB 3.0 32GB flash drives that are completely fine. There is much vitriol in the store comments against WD, but I think the issue is the Intel USB 3.0 chipset. It is most frustrating that they do little to acknowledge that fact. These things run rampant with speculation, facts are confused, and some cases are actually different.

I have a call into WD, but yet to hear back from them. I will try Alienware soon. As with most issues, I doubt the hardware is at fault, so sending the drive back for RMA would be pointless, and it IS the only 2 TB portable drive.

I imagine that power is not a factor after reading here about the USB 3.0 "My Book" drives going to sleep. A few people here have issues with large files, I mostly have issues with small files, may be a different issue? Those with USB 2.0 issues certainly have a different problem, this thread is not for them.

Here is what I've found from testing my system so far:

Western Digital My Passport 2 TB USB 3.0 external hard drive
Alienware M17Xr4
1. Disconnects intermittently
2. stays connected for several minutes unused
3. copies large files (100's MB or GB files) mostly
4. disconnects frequently with smaller files ( 400KB - 1.8MB pictures) and sometimes for every single small file

TS Steps:
1. Tested multiple USB 3.0 ports
2. Reinstalled drivers
3. Looked for new WD drivers, none found relevant
4. Ordered new, shorter cable, online comments suggest no change
5. Removed from case, HD sounds are normal, temp OK
6. Found updated Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Controller driver - no help
7. Created Truecrypt 35-GB file - no help when adding small files
8. M11xr2 w/USB 2.0 ports work fine, copied files large and small
9. M17xr4 USB2/eSATA port works fine

possibilities:
1. Intel USB 3.0 driver
2. WD SES Device driver

Work-arounds not yet tried:
1. USB 3.0 on separate computer? Non-Intel chipset?
2. USB 3.0 powered hub?
3. Different USB 3.0 cable, short for less power loss

 

This I believe is the standard problem faced by everyone including myself. This issue is not something Alienware can simply expect consumers to ignore be it a problem related to Intel's Hardware or Software. This is actually a major issue because external drive usage is critical and USB 3.0 is a big feature of the Alienware M17x R4. The cannot expect consumers to be understand as what they did with regards to SATA 2 and SATA 3 speeds in Alienware M17x R3. They eventually capped it to SATA 2 via bios update wherein it was suppose to perform SATA 3 where applicable.

This is going to be a very expensive problem if its proven to be hardware hence motherboard issue which will warrant mandatory motherboard exchange. It would be a Sandy Bridge moment. So I am really hoping its just a software incompatibility between Intel and HDD manufacturers. The good news is that the USB 3.0 is working swell on 3.0 Pen Drive. The issue at hand here does seem to relate to POWER. It cannot be said that the Port is not supplying enough power because it works fine in USB 2.0 mode on very same port. Perhaps the USB 3.0 driver has a glitch on how it controls power supply. I am just speculating logically, which is the only damn thing we can do at the moment since the responsible parties are silent and not issuing any preliminary say on the matter.

You can test the USB 3.0 on Alienware M17x R3, it carries 3rd party renesas driver using NEC chip.

Another curiousity I have is to find out whether this problem is prevalent with the system received over the last 2 weeks? If this is not happening to those who received their system recently who are using the same drivers then there is a strong possibility that they may have done some revision on the Intel Chipset/ Firmware /Port or the motherboard in entirety.

 

Is this USB 3 problem occuring on all laptops like the MSI GT70 and the Asus G75VW?

 

I am in the same boat, and would like to know the answer.

 

Hmm, so when I first got my computer a week ago, my WD 3.0 1Tb external HD wasn't launching on my top right USB port. Now it's not launching on the two ports on the left but will now launch on the two on the right including the port that didn't work at first. All of the ports work with every other USB device I have. Very strange.

 

witch model...


3,5 or 2,5 HDD

we all have problems with I believe 2,5 model drives... from WD..


maybe because from experience I know that they need litle more power from USB than other manufacturers

 

I am experiencing the same problem..

Last night I transferred a bunch of files (~430GB) to my 500GB WD Essentials USB 3.0 External Drive and it keeps on disconnecting once in a while, I thought its a problem again with my laptop since I just received my laptop for repairs but when I tried it on my brother's MSI GT663x USB 3.0 port (NEC chipset) , same problem.. so yes, maybe its WD's fault or NEC USB3.0 driver's fault.

 

So my 750 WD External 3.0 is working on all ports. It seems like the 1Tb drive doesn't work on all ports.

 

Update to my Troubleshooting from a few posts up.

A new, short, fat, USB 3.0 cable made no difference. But a powered hub does. I've got 110MB/s on big files, and small files continue on just fine. So, this fairly well proves that this is a power problem. My M17Xr4 cannot supply sufficient power to drive the WD 2GB "My Passport" 2.5" x 15mm drive. Now I know that it is hardware, I still do not know whose fault it is. I am leaning towards Dell. And I am beginning to think the fix is expensive, requiring hardware modification/replacement. I did not see any USB "high power" options in the BIOS on this model like I did my M11x. Although, a BIOS update might add that.

 

I have a Hitachi Touro external 2gb 3.0 drive that has its own wall wart power supply. It suffers the same disconnect issues as the WDs that use the USB connector as a power source.

 

R4 doesnt use a NEC chipset, it uses Intel chipset. NEC drivers would be supplied by renesas.

 

It can and cannot be due to Hardware because the same External 3.0 hard drives are transferring fine on USB 2.0 mode/speeds on the very same USB 3.0 ports. So either transferring at USB 3.0 mode/speed requires more power that the USB 3.0 ports cant supply or its a software issue.

Does USB 3.0 require more power to be supplied to the External 3.0 drive?

If its a power issue the blame can again go on either side of the wall. Either the Hard drive manufacturers have not designed the USB 3.0 enclosures in line with USB 3.0 port specs or the ports are lemon.

It cant be sometimes its working and sometimes its not when it comes to power draw. If it cant supply that it, it would never supply. Hardware is easier to troubleshoot than software.

The comment below PROVES ITS NOT POWER ISSUE???????

 

WD Passport 1TB worked (and still works) fine when I backed up/restored my mother's hard drive on her USB 3.0-compatible MBP 2012 13" laptop. No intermittent disconnects with lots of big and small file transfers. I didn't know about this issue until my R4 arrived.

 

I used to have the same problem with my Dell XPS 15 (L501X), which could not be fixed by replacing (refurbished) parts (3 mainboards and 3 USB daughter boards, CPU). It had Renesas drivers, obtainable through Intel or Dell website. My Iomega Prestige 1TB USB 3.0 HDD used to randomly re-connect while idle or in use. If I was watching a movie from the HDD, this used to cause media player to stop responding and I used to have to physically disconnect the HDD and connect it again to get it working. Now on my Alienware M17x R4 I have not had this problem yet, but it might be too early to say as I only bought the laptop 2 weeks ago.

This can be found on Iomega's website - https://iomega-eu-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26104

Question
My Iomega USB 3 drive stops responding or drops off the USB bus when connected to a built-in USB 3.0 host port. What's wrong?

Answer
Some computers with downlevel USB 3.0 drivers issue a very high frequency of soft reset commands. When this happens while the computer is reading from an Iomega USB 3.0 drive, it causes the drive to stop responding or drop off the USB 3 bus. On some computers, this can cause the drive not to be detected at all. You might see any of the following symptoms:

The Iomega USB 3 drive freezes or locks up when the computer is reading a file from the drive
The drive disappears from My Computer or Windows Explorer while the computer is reading a file from the drive
The drive is not recognized on the computer when connected to a built-in USB 3.0 host port, but is recognized correctly if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port

To resolve this issue, you need to do two things:

Update the USB 3.0 drivers on your computer.
Contact the manufacturer of your computer to obtain updated USB 3.0 drivers and follow their instructions to install them.

Update the firmware on your Iomega USB 3.0 drive.
Click the link below to download the update. Unzip the exe file and double click to run it. If needed, you can connect the drive to a USB 2.0 port to complete the update.

This update will improve how the drive handles soft reset commands from the host, but it will not totally solve the problem if you do not also update the USB 3 drivers on the computer.

 

I haven't been able to check the USB 3.0 drives till today and both my external WD 2TB drives are not working properly with the laptop (My Book Essential). Both drives have their own power supply.

It connects and stays connected till I try to transfer anything from laptop to the drive. Then it says "drive not ready" and continues to reconnect.

Any drivers I can update here? It works as usual on the USB 2.0 port but I have 4 x USB 3.0 ports I can't use here. Tsk tsk, was hoping I wouldn't have this problem.

 

I already have new firmware on my essential WD drive..... (I believe it is from April), new bios for R4, new WD SES... 64bit... and new intel usb 3.0 drivers.....


problem is still here

 

The Intel USB 3.0 driver is actually one that was issued in February. There is nothing later than that. This is from Intel website k.

 

Firstly, my issue may not be the same as that external Hitachi drive, so you cannot draw conclusions from their similarities, only possibilities that require testing and validation. They may be the same, they may not be, it proves nothing. Why his drive has trouble makes no sense to me. Different hardware, must be a different problem. I cannot troubleshoot his problem, only my own.

Secondly, the USB 3.0 ports do not work at USB 2.0 speeds with this drive. A USB2 drive will work on all ports, but the USB3 drive only works on the single USB2/eSATA port.

Your argument about USB 3.0 requiring more power may be true, but I have not been able to prove that here since the drive will not work at both speeds on the same port. In either case it should be moot since USB 3.0 is supposed to offer twice the current, and that is obviously not happening. I cannot see how USB 3.0 would require over TWICE the power to run as USB 2.0!

Since it does work on a powered hub, using these very same ports, then power is the only thing changed and must be at least related to the problem. I've got a "Y" cable coming tomorrow to test. Most indications I've gotten are that they do not work with USB 3.0, but hopefully somebody will make one eventually.

But another update: I just flashed my BIOS from A02 to A05. If it helps, it isn't much. It certainly is still broken.
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

Dear Nar. The above observation is wrong because the very same USB 3.0 Hard Drives do work on all the available USB ports at 2.0 speeds. This has already been tested by myself and other users. I hope you read the thread from the beginning.

All you have to do is remove the Intel USB 3.0 extensible driver. And reboot once. Now all the USB 3.0 ports will work but only at 2.0 speeds. and the USB 3.0 external Hard drive will work smoothly...again only at usb 2.0 speeds.

Try it please.

Based on the above comment from one of the owners regarding Iomega's explanation it pretty clearly explains the root cause of the drives connecting and disconnecting.

IT CANNOT BE A POWER ISSUE because another owner has clearly mentioned he has connected a USB 3.0 external drive which is powered separately. Even such an independently powered USB 3.0 external demonstrates the exact same problem when connected to USB 3.0 ports. Its connects and disconnectes often.

Iomega has covered this issue with their official explanation pointing at the USB 3.0 drivers implementation. It is software relatred and I think its gonna take the major party's namely Intel, OEM and hard drive manufacturers to sit down and sort out this latest glitch.

Question
My Iomega USB 3 drive stops responding or drops off the USB bus when connected to a built-in USB 3.0 host port. What's wrong?




Answer
Some computers with downlevel USB 3.0 drivers issue a very high frequency of soft reset commands. When this happens while the computer is reading from an Iomega USB 3.0 drive, it causes the drive to stop responding or drop off the USB 3 bus. On some computers, this can cause the drive not to be detected at all. You might see any of the following symptoms:




The Iomega USB 3 drive freezes or locks up when the computer is reading a file from the drive
The drive disappears from My Computer or Windows Explorer while the computer is reading a file from the drive
The drive is not recognized on the computer when connected to a built-in USB 3.0 host port, but is recognized correctly if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port




To resolve this issue, you need to do two things:




Update the USB 3.0 drivers on your computer.
Contact the manufacturer of your computer to obtain updated USB 3.0 drivers and follow their instructions to install them.




Update the firmware on your Iomega USB 3.0 drive.
Click the link below to download the update. Unzip the exe file and double click to run it. If needed, you can connect the drive to a USB 2.0 port to complete the update.




This update will improve how the drive handles soft reset commands from the host, but it will not totally solve the problem if you do not also update the USB 3 drivers on the computer.


I have browsed extensively on this matter and surprising this has been happeneing for quite sometimes to even desktops and those machines from other brands and last but not the least, even the USB 3.0 ports using NEC chipsets have been giving similar issues. The run with Renesas USB 3.0 driver.

Ours in R4 is supplied by Intel. The Bios update A05 doesnt provide any remedy either here.

I was also skeptical when I first read this thread. But when I tried on my own using a 3.0 external 2.5'' drive, it was giving the same symptoms but when I initiated a 5 gb transfer it did complete.

To be honest I am glad all arrows are now pointing at software because I really dont want to go through another replacement..hahaha..

But who knows...as for now I am just going by logical deduction since we have got so many testers relating their experience first hand. Thats why I have now safely concluded as I did.

 

You are right, but I am not wrong. I meant that when I plug the drive in it is always detected as a 3.0 device. I have no desire to downgrade my USB 3.0 ports, that's just like giving up.

I know what works for me, my powered hub is connected right now, and when the real fix comes out I will try it and we can all move along. Just because you have an answer that works in one place does not mean it is absolutely correct for everyone. I will grant you that it sounds compelling, but it is not proven, and since I cannot install Iomega firmware on my WD drive, it doesn't help me. A powered hub does. Besides, your suggestion to remove the eXtensible driver is just a work-around anyway, not a fix, and I've already got a USB 2.0 port to use. Why slow down my flash drives? Why slow down access through my powered hub? And what does it really prove anyway? 3.0 uses more wires, so disabling the driver disables those wires, so in effect it is a different port. With how integrated chips are it could even get power from a different source, likely does in my opinion.

Did I mention that my hub works? Maybe it stops those soft resets? Maybe, but it certainly provides POWER!!

We are both speculating, so do not insist that you have the answer for everyone else, I don't. You just *insert mundane, nanny, Grammar Nazi word here* others off with that attitude, unless that is your agenda. And yes, I have read the entire thread, and no, I am not 12. But I want to get out of this pissing match with you, it's too much like politics.

? Pis? Pissed? Pisses? Pissing? That sux damnyouautocorrect! At least I am not losing my marbles! Crap, now I really sound twelve!

 

Crazy Gents,


are you aware that we have 2100$ + laptop that don't work well?!?!?!?

That was my point when I open thread....

 

It was a pissing match? Oh I didnt know I was in one..and I dont wish to be in one. So i give myself this advise.

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with it.

Shalom.

 

What can i say Robert....if you feel i have contributed negatively to your thread I shall cease following or posting my lines here.

 

No,

posts are good, only I see 10 pages, but there is still no any answer from any Alienware representative that we have on forum,

I receive few PM-s, but still nothing serious, only that in "their LAB" everything works fine......

 

$2100? I paid $2500!

If they do not see it in their lab then they must be using a different hard drive. I don't know that I can add anything more though. I've proven the USB 2.0 ports works, and the USB 3.0 ports only work (for external USB-powered hard drives) when a powered hub is used. But that is only proof for my laptop and the WD 2TB "My Passport" drive. Iomega is not the same, and neither are the "My Book" 3.5" external drives.

I will try a Calavry USB 3.0 "Y" cable next week. Those are hard to find. WD said that they'd ship me a USB 2.0 "Y" cable free of charge, but didn't have a 3.0 compatible one. I wonder if these can stop those pesky "soft reset" signals!

 

I cant buy nothing else here at APO except WD, when I go home I will try something else.... and see what will happen....

But it is very irritating... one way or another...

 

So what usb 3.0 external HD should I buy for my m17x , andif I understand correctly, the WD 3.0 will work in the esata/usb 2.0 slot without any issues other than a reduction in speed?

 

I currently have a Alienware M17x R4. It came along with a 750GB hardrive. As soon as I got it I replaced the boot drive with a 240GB Kingston Hyper X ssd drive, and the original 750GB hardrive as the secondary drive. Everything works fine, except when I try to transfer files back and forth between my computer and my WD Passport 1TB external hardrive. While trying to transfer files back and forth, the external drive will disconnect then reconnect. The external hardive is powered through USB, and from my research I believe there is a power issue, where the computer is trying to power both my ssd, the secondary 750GB drive, as well as my external hardrive; and since there is not enough power it loses the connection with the external hardrive.

Is there a way around this, like being able to process more power to the devices. I am always plugged in to the power outlet while doing this. I have found that I have better luck transfering files from my ssd to my external as the secondary hardrive is not in use and is not using power, but this is a pain to deal with.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/675401-alienware-m17x-r4-usb-3-0-problem.html